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Bugs eating hollyhock leaves
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Posted by libbypittsburgh 5/6 Pittsburgh (My Page) on Mon, Jun 15, 09 at 9:40
| Hello,
Something has eaten my hollyhocks leaves to a great extent. The leaves look like skeletons. There were things that looked like eggs on the undersides of the leaves earlier in the spring and there were also some bugs that looked like little flies that seemed interested in sitting on the leaves. The plants are in bud and otherwise look pretty healthy.
Is there anything I can do to promote the health of the plants at this point, or anything I can use on the leaves next year to prevent this?
Thank you,
Libby |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bugs eating hollyhock leaves
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| I'll bet that you have an infestation of hollyhock sawfly larvae. Look for small, green worm-like insects on the UNDERside of the foliage. Perhaps the fly-like insects you've observed are the adult sawflies, which do resemble true flies (sort of). Wash the larvae off with strong sprays of water, spray with insecticidal soap. Be sure to concentrate on the underside of the leaves. These little pests didn't show up overnight. Be sure to be extra observant next year so that you can spray them off before severe skeletonizing occurs. |
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